Smith Journal volume 2 goes on sale Monday – get a sneak peek here. This is from the publishers of Frankie. Many newsagents sold our of Smith Journal Volume 1 last year. I did in my newsagency and order ed more. Sold that too. ordered more and sold that too. This is a hit title.
NEWSAGENTS: do not early return Smith Journal.
I have seen some sales data for this title and am certain that they stock you will receive Monday will sell. The print run is tight. The publisher has not scaled out with fat for returns.
There is a strong social media campaign around Smith Journal. This will work but over time.This is our opportunity to demonstrate that we will support new and innovative Australian titles. Other publishers are watching how newsagents react to Smith Journal. So, please, for the sake of all of us, DO NOT EARLY RETURN SMITH JOURNAL.
I have no commercial relationship whatsoever with then publisher, Morrison Media. It just so happens that I love the title and what they are doing to drive traffic to our stores to purchase this and their other titles.
I have already sought more stock as I am certain we will sell out.
If we as a channel to not fix the early returns problems we will turn out osiers away fro our businesses and this will ultimately hurt the most valuable habit based traffic we have. This is not an issue for us to debate. It is an issue for us to act on in your own newsagencies. Yes, I understand there are titles we should early return – but this has to be done intelligently and based on good data.
Mark,
The title may not sell for everyone. Just as you are certain you will sell out, I am certain that we will have trouble selling just a few copies even if we placed it off-location.
Frankie does well for you … but we don’t even stock it (we tried and couldn’t get it to sell).
That is not to say we won’t allocate it a pocket if we get some – but only if space allows.
Jarryd, Based on what I know of the allocations model being used, I would expect every store getting the title to achieve a good sell through. This is a smart allocation.
I strongly support Frankie, Smith Journal, and anything else from Morrison Media simply because they have shown an interest in our industry unlike many other
publishers.
I am very impressed with their style and I
will continue to support those who support me.
Alf Santomingo (no I do not know him and
he is not a family member or a friend) cares about newsagencies because he recognizes that we have the power to make or break his titles and he works WITH us AND NOT AGAINST US as some of the bigger players appear to do.
I must admit that GG have been more proactive lately (nexus etc) as a distributor and I have been getting excellent customer service from them when I request changes or a new title or
extras. I must give credit where it is due.
Three people today – “Will you have it on Monday?” Insert hotcakes analogy.
I hope you pre sold. In that situation we offer to hold the title if they pay up front.
Frankie and Smith are not big sellers for me however they are worth backing when compared to a lot of the stuff I am sent. The one inquiry I did have for Simth by a retired sollicitor was a beauty, quote “A magazine for blokes that does not consist of buttocks and v8s”
Mark,
Fair enough. I was making the assumption that the allocation was going to be the same old same old.
If we get some, I’ll give it a go, but we find Frankie, Peppermint and Dumbo Feather a hard sell so I’m unsure how successful it will be. I have customers who say they are dissatisfied with the usual gossip mags etc, but are not yet open to trying a new mag.
My latest ploy to increase the readership of these mags is to give an old copy to the local doctor’s surgery for the waiting room. Hopefully once people give them a try, they may come and buy!
I urge people to go to the link in the post here to read more about the title and understand who it targets. If you have an email list of customers, this would be a good title to promote.
I use the words “thinking girls Mag” when describing Frankie to potential consumers.
They all like to be put into that category
so it is a natural for them to then buy it.
Same thing with Smith Journal – “thinking
man’s mag”, and you have appealed to their vanity!!
Thanks Mark, and those who have commented on Smith Journal.
More Newsagent information about Smith:
http://bit.ly/AmCxR6
If you have any questions regarding Smith, Frankie, or any other Morrison Media publication, please don’t hesitate to contact us.